Knockdown high chair



Allil V13, 11554 J. oHMAN KNocKDowN HIGH GHAIR Filed Jan. 18, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l 5:6111 Il x Lil. mi;

l u W April 13, 1954 J. L. OHMAN KNocKDowN HIGH CHAIR 2 Sheets-Shee; 2

Filed Jan. 18, 1952 in the assembled high chair. l.

Patented Apr. 13, 1954 KNO CKDOWN HIGH CHAIR John L. Ohman, Gardner, Mass., assigner to Marlboro Mfg. Co., Inc., Marlboro, N. H., a oorporation of New Hampshire Application January 18, 1952, Serial No. 267,059

Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in high chairs and the like. More particularly it provides a high chair which may be packaged for storage and shipment in a partiallyassembled condition, and which quickly and easily may be completely assembled by any purchaser who follows a few simple directions.

Conventional high chairs, because of their spread and height, are awkward units to package or crate and require considerable space when even a relatively small number of them are to be stored by a jobber or retailer, or are to be shipped toany particular destination. Freight charges for transportation of high chairs have excessively increased the cost of such chairs to the user, particularly in those cases Where the ultimate user-purchaser has been located a considerable distance from the place of manufacture of the chairs.

It is among the objects of the present invention to provide a high chair which may be manufactured in a few permanently assembled generally fiat sections and a few connecting elements, all of which may be packaged in a carton having dimensions of the order of thirty inches by twenty inches by four inches, and which quickly and simply may be completely assembled by anyone who follows a few' simple directions involving the use of only a wrench which is provided in the carton. According to the invention, a chair back section and two side sections are permanently assembled, with each side section comprising two legs and one arm of the chair. A seat, a foot rest, and two leg braces are separately provided, and threaded projections on particular parts are readily insertible in holes in other parts to easily and quickly assemble the parts in loose proper relationships, following which applying and tightening of a nut on each threaded projection produces an eX- tremely rigid and stable high chair on whose arms a tray may be adjustably mounted in a conventional manner.

Another object of the invention is to provide a knock-down high chair having generally flat permanently assembled sections and a plurality of separate connecting elements, which sections and elements may be packaged compactly in a relatively small carton, for shipment and storage, and readily and quickly may be set up into a rigid completely assembled high chair by applying and tightening nuts on threaded projec- .f .tions permanently xed on the sections and elements and angularly disposed for ensuring proper inclinations of the chair back vand legs It is, moreover, my purpose and object generally to improve the structure of high chairs and the like and more particularly to provide a knock-down high chair which is easily and quickly convertible between its knocked-down and its fully assembled conditions.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a completely assembled high chair embodying features of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the completely assembled high chair of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the assembled chair of Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a detail cross-sectional View on line 4--4 of Fig. 1, on a larger scale;

Fig. 5 shows the various sections and elements of the high chair in separated relationships;

Fig. 6 represents a flat rectangular carton in which the knocked-down chair may be packaged for shipment and storage; and

Fig. '7 is an edge elevation of a modified form of side section each of whose legs is in two parts hinged together, the upper part of the side section being folded over upon the lower partthereof.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Fig. 5 thereof, the high chair comprises two similar side sections indicated generally at I0 and I2, each having two legs lli, iii perinanently secured together in inclined relation by a 'chair arm I8, which is rigidly secured to the upper ends of the legs, and by a Horace bar or rung 20 which extends between and is rigidly connected to the legs at a location substantially spaced from the lower ends of the legs. Each leg I4, I6 has two holes 22, 24 drilled therethrough at predetermined spaced locations along each leg, and each leg I4 has another hole 26 `drilled therethrough between and. transversely a perforated metal strip 30 at that side of the i of its opposite side edges and projecting from these edges at a predetermined inclination to the `plane of the seat. The seat projections 34 vat one side `edge of the seat are adapted to be inserted through the holes 22 in the legs of one side section I8 of the chair and the similar projections 34 at the other side edge of the seat are adapted to be inserted through the holes 22 in the legs of the other side section I2 of the chair. Theside edges/of seat 32preferably are slightlyk rounded as Vshown in Fig. 5, and the holes 22 through the legs I4, I6 are drilled perjection 34 and 56, preferably with a washer intervening between each nut and the adjacent pendicular to the outer surface of each leg.

Hence, when the threaded projections 34 are inserted through the leg holes 22, their "said inclination to the plane ofV theseatis such that they extend through holesm22 and entend sonriewhat beyond the legs in perpendicularity to the outer surfaces of the legs whenthelegs are inclined relative to each other -as shownin Fig. 1. rIhe slight rounding of the seat edges facilitates the attainment of a good bearing contact between the seat edges andthe inclined legs when 'these elementsrmarejdrawn,together and effectively 'securedas later will be described. l `The rear edge of seat,r v82 is also slightly rounded and has two threaded projections 3B rigidly secured thereto 'and projecting therefrom at a predetermined inclination to the plane of the seat, the in'clinationof these projections '3e bein'g" pp'os'ite 5to the inclination of the side edge projections 34.

Achair bach 1 section is indicated' generally "at 'as and comprises me two relatively vmeiined posts 4I l`which are fr igfl'dlyv Aand permanently Vconieoted together `at their upper ends by the transverse. rnembernllZi A vpanel member `44 is per- 'manently connected t'o the posts 49 and to member 42.` I Y o Each "ost `ABof chair 4back section 3B has two holes de, i452kr 'drilled therethrough, the holes 45 being Natftliie lower endso the posts for reception of the threaded 4projections 36 at the rea-n edge 'of seat 32,anfd the holes 48 being lofc'ated for 'reception 'of the threaded projections 28 at the rear 'endsiof the chair arms I8 when the chair is being assembled. The holes'll, 48 l'a'referably` are perpendicular to the rear surfaces .of yposts .48, and the inclinations of the projections `28 "and '36 are such that the proje''ztions4 extend through the holes`48, y48 and project beyond, the 'posts 48 in 'perpendieularity to the .rear surfaces of .the posts when the chair beek section is inermea rei'etive to the chair seat and their arms as shownin Fig. 2.

Two `sinriilar leg braces orfrun'gs are represented 'et 52, v54, the 'opposite ends df each having a uthreaded projection 56 rigidly secured 'thereto and projecting therefrom at Va predetermined y.inclination to the brace vor rung. I he projection 56 at 'one end of brace 52 Yis adapted to bein'se'rted `in the hole 24 in one of the rear legs s of er; 'je'h'eir and the projection 5s et the other 'end of brace 52 'is adapted to be inserted in the hole ,24 fin 'the'other rear leg I6. Similarly, the rprojections 56 on bracef5`4 are adapted to be` inserted inv the holes 24 'in "the two front legs I4 of the chair. n Ordinarily. these braces 5,2, `54l shouldfbe assembled loosely between the chair legs 'following'insertion of the seat projections 34 in the holes 22 of the legs so that the lower ends of the legs may be spread vsuf- 'iiciently (for. insertion of the brace projections 56 inthe lower leg holes24, afterwhi'ch the side sections mayY be pressed toward each other `against the opposite side edges of the vseat and `against the opposite lends of the braces '52, 54,

and be secured in Vplace "by screwin'gua'nut 58 on the projecting end'of :each threaded proleg surface. The chair back section 38 then may be mounted on the threaded projections 28 and 36 of the chair arms and seat, and be secured by nuts 58 screwed on the projections.

` A foot rest 82 has the two threaded projections 64 rigid thereon and adapted to be inserted in the holes 26 in the front legs of the chair, and to be secured in place across the front legs oy-nuts 58.

The` chair is now completely assembled excepting the ft'ra'y 6'6 which may be adjustably and removably mounted on the chair arms I8 in a conventional manner. As shown, each end of the tray has a spring biased plunger B8 mounted on a depending bracket Ill and the inner ends of the plungers are adapted to engage selectively in the perforations in the strip elements 30 on the outer sides of arms I8. The plungers 58 may be manually drawn outward to release the tray for adjustment along the chair Yarm or for removal from theA chair.

It will be obvious, from the foregoing description, that my irriprfnfed-high chair as represented in Figs. 1 5, in knocked-down condition, may be compactly packaged in Va generally flat rectangular carton, or other container, of the general shape shown in full lines in Fig. 6, `for shipment and storage with substantial savings in space and shipping and storage costs. Yet the sections and elements of vthe chair Vare so constructed that they can beouckly assembled into a rigid 4and stable high chair by anyone Ywith ordinary intelligence 'who follows a few simple instructions. The parts go together readily and may be rigidly secured by merely applying and tightening a few nuts with a wrench which may be included with the nuts and Vwashers in an envelope accompanying the chair parts.

My improved high chair may be made still more compact, in knocked-down condition, by 'making each leg 'of the chair in two parts hinged together at I2 (Fig. 7) so that each side section i8, I2 may berfolded upon itself, as in Fig. '7, for packaging. When thev side sections I8, i2 are folded, as suggested in Fig. 7, the knocked-down earlier described herein, the connections betweenV the vlegs and the chair seat 32 above the hinges H2 coacting with the foot rest 62 and brace bars 52, 5'4 below the hinges :to maintain the chair legs rigid.` l

It is intended that vthe "patent shall c'o'veigby suitableexpression in the appended claims, whatever featuresl cf patentable Ynovelty nexist inthe `invention disclosed.

l. claifn'as my invention:

l. A high `chair comprising "two side sections, each having two legs and one 'arm rigidly and permanently connected together with the arm'jat the upper end of the legs and with the legs'extending in a common lplane from the arm and having relative inclination Vin said Vcommon plane with greater spread at their `lower ends thangat theirV upper ends, a 'brace element rigidly 'and permanently maintaining the said spread "of, the lower ends of Wthe legs of each 'said Aside section, there being two spacedholes ltlfi'roii'g'h each'leg of ea-ch said side section extending transversely `of said common plane ofthe legs of each side section, one said hole -in each leg being at one predetermined location below the said arms, and the other said hole in each leg being at another predetermined locationcloser to the lower end of each leg, a seat elementhaving a pair of threaded projections at each of its opposite side Aedges, each adapted to extend through the upper hole in a different one of said legs and to project beyond the legs, two similar brace elements, each having a threaded projection at each of its ends, the said projections on one brace element being adapted to extend through the lower ones of said holes in one leg of each said side section and to project beyond the legs, and the said projections on the other brace element being adapted to extend through the lower ones of said holes in the other leg of each said side section and to project beyond the legs, a chair-back section comprising two posts and means extending between the posts permanently securing the posts in a predetermined spaced relation, each said post having two spaced holes therethrough of which one hole of each post is adapted to receive a said threaded projection on the rear end of one of the chair arms with said projections extending through and beyond the posts, two threaded projections xed on the rear edge of said seat element, each adapted to extend through the other said hole in different ones or" the chair-back posts and to project beyond the posts, and a nut screwed on each said threaded projection and securing said sections and elements rigidly together.

2. A high chair comprising two similar side f sections, a chair-back section, and a seat element detachably secured together, each said side section having two legs permanently connected together by a chair-arm at one end of the legs with the legs inclined relative to each other in a cornmon plane, and each leg of each side section having a hole therethrough perpendicular to said plane at a predetermined location spaced from the chair-arm, said chair-back section having two posts with connecting means rigidly and permanently connecting the posts in spaced relation in a common plane, each said post having two holes therethrough perpendicular to said common plane of the posts at predetermined spaced locations along the posts, two threaded projections fixed to each of two opposite side edges of said seat element, the said projections at one side 0f the seat element extending respectively through the holes in the legs of said side section and the said projections at the other side edge of the seat element extending respectively through the holes in the legs of the other said side section, two threaded projections rigid on the rear edge of said seat element extending respectively through the lower hole in said chair-back posts, a single threaded projection rigid on the rear end of each said chair-arm and extending each through the upper hole in one of said chair-back posts, and a nut screwed on the end of each said threaded projection securing said side sections, chair-back section and seat element in rigid assembled condition.

3. In a high chair having two similar side sections, each comprising two legs and one arm rigidly and permanently secured together with the arm connecting the upper ends of the legs, the combination therewith of a seat element removably supported on and between said side sections, said seat element having two threaded projections rigid on each of two opposite side edges of Athe seat element and projecting therefrom at a predetermined inclination to the plane of the seat element, thev two legs of each said side section being in a common plane and the'said common plane of the legs of one side section being inclined with respect to the said common plane of the legs oi the other side section, each leg of each side section having a hole` therethrough at a predetermined location therealong and perpendicular to the said common plane of the leg, and a different one of said seat projections extending through a said hole in each leg, a nut screwed on each of said projections clamping the legs against said opposite side edges of the seat element, and rigid means at the back of the chair detachably secured to the rear edge of said seat element and to the rear end of each of said arms of said side sections.

4. In a knock-down high chair having leg and arm elements permanently and rigidly connected together to provide two similar side sections, and having a back section and a seat element, means for detachably connecting together said side sections, back section and seat element with the seat element supported on and between said side sections, said means comprising two threaded projections rigid on each of two opposite side edges and on the rear edge of said seat element, a single threaded projection rigid on the rear end of each of said arm elements, there being a hole through each of said leg elements and a different one of said side edge seat projections being inserted through said hole in each leg element, there being four holes through said back section and said rear edge seat projections being inserted one in each oi two of said holes in the back section, said arm projections being inserted one in each of the other two holes in the back section, and a nut screwed on the end of each said projection rigidly but detachably securing said side and back sections and said seat element together.

5. In a knock-down high chair having leg and arm elements permanently connected together to provide two similar side sections, and having a back section and a seat element, each leg of each said side section being in two parts hinged together at a location spaced a substantial distance from each end of the leg whereby the upper portion of each said side section may be folded over upon the lower portion thereof when the knocked down chair is to be packaged, means for detachably connecting together said side sections, back section and seat element after the hinged legs of the side sections have been opened to their full lengths, the seat element being supported on and between said side sections, said connecting means comprising two threaded projections rigid on each of two opposite side edges and on the rear edge of said seat element, a single threaded projection rigid on the rear end of each of said arm elements, there being a hole through each of said leg elements and a different one of said side edge seat projections being inserted through said hole in each leg element, there being four holes through said back section and said rear edge seat projections being inserted one in each of two of said holes in the back section, said arm projections being inserted one in each of the other two holes in the back section, and a nut screwed on the end of each said projection rigidly but detachably securing said side and back sections and said seat element together, said seat element being connected to the side sections above the said leg hinges, and means below the 1 leg hinges rigidly connecting the said side sections together,

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 277,454 Bruschke May 15, 1883 1,066,421 Russell July 1, 1913 1,848,656 Phenix Mar. 8, 1932 Number Name Date 2.004.648 Holster June 1-1. 1935 2,562,629 AMiles V July 31, 1951 g FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 177,725 Great Britain Apr. 6, 1921 OTHER REFERENCES 

